Trying to decide if you should come stay? Whether it’s quiet relaxation or local entertainment, there is something in the area for everyone!
Just across the lake from Gresham Retreat is Pope’s Gresham Lodge. Meals are served family-style, and the Friday Night Fish-Fry is one of the best in the entire area. Decorated with rustic decor and one of the most impressive displays of mounted animals in the Northwoods.
Great local place for breakfast and quick bites
Close, and really great food, but fairly expensive.
Overall very good food and beer. The Divano Lounge, located above the restaurant, has music almost every Friday and Saturday night year-round.
A very good restaurant with a unique gangster history. We recommend taking the tour, and the food and view is great too!
Only open Memorial Day – October. Gorgeous view, really excellent food, and has live harp music available on Saturday nights.
Casual dining, specialty pizzas, and Memorial Day – Labor Day they often have live music on Friday nights.
Very casual, pizza and sandwiches.
Recommended for casual meals. Live music on Saturday and Sunday evenings Memorial Day – mid-September.
They have a chef and their menu reflects this.
Good home cooking with reasonable prices.
Good German food, casual dining. Thursday-Sunday evenings Memorial Day – Labor Day they have live music.
Upstairs of the Minocqua Brewing Company. Overall very good food and craft brewed beer. Has music almost every Friday and Saturday night year-round.
They will routinely have music on the weekends, and the staff are extremely friendly.
Friendly service, great atmosphere, and a nice selection of craft beers on tap. Serves pizza and popcorn, drinks are a bit pricey.
Great relaxed eclectic atmosphere, plenty of wine to choose from, beer, cocktails, along with tapas, coffee and great desserts.
Let your artistic side out with a stop to Earth Goods. Pottery painting and other crafty activities, combined with a lounge and specialty cocktails.
Excellent beer made right in the heart of Woodruff. Definitely recommend the Musky Bite.
Selling the best darned ice cream ever made, at least according to the kids. Not really kidding, it’s the best.
Small, and a bit more expensive supermarket, nice deli, coffee bar and excellent ice cream from the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream.
The owners are friendly, and the vibe is on point for the North Woods. Good locally brewed beer.
Wonderful bourbon. The mixed drinks were awesome and the staff treats you like the only customer without neglecting others. Excellent north woods atmosphere and if you’re lucky you might catch the live music!
A great place for family fun. Many activities occur here throughout the year, and there are ample hiking and cross-country ski trails.
Recommended for hiking or biking in the summertime. Located between Lakeshore Drive and Front Street in Minocqua, behind the post office.
A Northwoods zoo! Many animals on display throughout the year, a great time for young and middle-aged kids! Open May thru October, check their site for schedule, hours and pricing.
Great 17 mile paved bike trail connected to additional trails for a total of 45 miles.
In the summer: the beach, a playground, and music in the bandshell on Thursday nights. In the winter, ice skating is available.
Established in 1924, Trout Lake Golf Club is the oldest 18-hole golf facility in the Northwoods. Open to the public, it boasts 18 scenic holes and an unmatched practice facility including 325 yards of range, a 7000-square foot putting/chipping green, a 3500-square foot bunker/chipping green and an exceptional pavilion for relaxing.
Mountain bike / hike / ski / snowshoe – 11 miles of mountain biking trails, 15 miles of hiking trails, 12+ miles of groomed cross-country ski trails and 5 miles of snowshoe trails.
Minocqua Winter Park is one of the most popular Nordic Centers in the Midwest. 50 miles of groomed trails to cross-country ski and snowshoe amid the solitude and beauty of 6,500 acres of wilderness area. Right outside the heated Chalet is the 600 foot, lift assisted, Squirrel Hill Snow Tubing Runs and the ice skating pond, making Minocqua Winter Park a true family adventure.
Great bait and supply shop, gas station, and next to the Rustic Roadhouse for a quick bite or drink.
18 hole outdoor miniature adventure golf course, our kids favorite! After, enjoy a scoop of frozen custard or test your skills in our modern video game room.
Gresham Retreat is a quick 1/2 mile ride from intersection #302 of Cross Country Cruiser trail #51 in Vilas County. We’re a great home base for a fun snowmobiling adventure in the heart of the north woods trails. Rent a sled from several Minocqua rental locations, leave your car and ride a quick 30 minutes back to Gresham Retreat following the East Boundary Trail.
We have experience renting from Minocqua Sports Rentals, which had easy access to the trails.
6 screen theatre in Minocqua
An indoor water park open year-round with several water slides and amusement for the entire family. September thru June the water slide hours are limited to weekends. See their site for hours and rates before planning a visit.
The basement level includes a large indoor mini-golf course and escape room fun for any rainy or cold day. Great shopping center for clothing, household, and women’s boutique. A giant antique shop on the upper level is worth exploring!
Let your artistic side out with a stop to Earth Goods. Pottery painting and other crafty activities, combined with a lounge and specialty cocktails.
A parade in the morning is followed by shopping and events during the day and fireworks at night. More info at minocqua.org.
Mid-August each year this celebration brings artists together in Torpy Park with an all day arts and craft show with over 100 artisans and craftsmen combined with live music and food vendors. More info at minocqua.org.
Mid-to-late June every year this boat show brings together classic boats and water entertainment. This three-day event includes the boat parade, Min Aqua Bat waterski show, and a lot of other fun activities. More info at minocqua.org.
Late September each year brings more than 12,000 people together for the northwoods premiere event celebrating all kinds of smoked, cooked and otherwise prepared beef-based food in downtown Minocqua. The event combines live music, vendor fairs, many food-based activities and a parade. More info at minocqua.org.
Mid-August brings another festival to Torpy Park. Live music, dragon boat races, activities, food, and a beer garden. More info at www.minocquadragonboat.com.
Late June thru early September, there’s live music from 4-6 PM every Sunday at Koller Memorial Park in Manitowish Waters, an 18 minute drive. Food and drinks are available, as well as a beach for the kids to play and swim during the music. Music also follows this event at several local establishments. The weekly music schedule is available on their site:
A great place for family fun. Many activities occur here throughout the year, and there are ample hiking and cross-country ski trails.
Smaller selection, but close.
Medium-sized grocery store in Minocqua
Overall best selection grocery store in Minocqua, plus an attached liquor and wine store.
Small, and a bit more expensive supermarket, nice deli, coffee bar and excellent ice cream from the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream.
Large medical center and emergency room
Walk-in clinic and appointments available.
Smaller selection, but close.
Aside from Gaslight Square, the rest of downtown Minocqua has tons of shops and restaurants:
Let your artistic side out with a stop to Earth Goods. Pottery painting and other crafty activities, combined with a lounge and specialty cocktails.
The basement level includes a large indoor mini-golf course and escape room fun for any rainy or cold day. Great shopping center for clothing, household, and women’s boutique. A giant antique shop on the upper level is worth exploring!
Great bait and supply shop, gas station, and next to the Rustic Roadhouse for a quick bite or drink.
